Archive for the month “September, 2010”

Start by making the coils for the front of the large bead by wrapping the wire on the round nose pliers until you have your desired size of coil. Bend the end so that you can position it in front of the bead and you can insert the remaining wire through the large bead. Add the seed bead and close with a wire wrapped loop. Connect the earring hooks.

Decide on the size of the hoop for the earring and wrap around the 6″ wire on the mandrel. Wrap the wire until it crosses each other. Leave about 1 1/4″ so that you can wrap that end to create a wire wrapped loop, but don’t forget to insert the bead before closing the loop. With the remaining wire sticking up, leave about 1/4″ in to create a wire loop. Connect the hoops and your done!

Tip:

The hoop will be a little bit bigger after it’s wrapped around the mandrel.

Tip 2:

This earring is so versatile. You can change the beads to match any color in your wardrobe!

To create the hook, take the 3″ wire and create a wire wrapped loop at one end. Wrap the wire around a cylindrical object, preferrably a 1″ mandrel to create the round bend. Find the center and bend at the center with the chain nose pliers and bend the wire over itself to create something that resembles a fish shape. Open up the wire a bit and cut off the extra wire, about 1/4″ shorter than the other side of the wire with the loop.

Take a 2 1/2″ length of the gold wire and with chain nose pliers, bend over about 1/16″ wire over itself to create a headpin. Thread the gold bead through and close with a wire wrapped loop. Get another wire and create a wire wrapped loop, but before closing the loop, hook the gold bead that you just wired. Thread the amber bead and close with a wire wrapped loop. Get another wire and create a wire wrapped loop, but before you close the loop, hook the amber bead and close the loop. Thread the brown bead and before you close the wire wrapped loop, hook the earring hook through and close the loop.

Tip:

Make sure the wire wrapped loops on the top and bottom of the beads are both facing the same sides and centered on the bead. This will make your jewelry look more finished and balanced when completed.

To make the leaflet: Determine the center of the 6″ wire and with the chain nose pliers, make a bend on the halfway point. Fold the wire just until the two open ends meet. About 3/4″ from the open ends of the wire, use chain nose pliers to make a bend, perpendicular to the other open end of the wire. Now you can wrap the wire to create something similar to the wire wrapped loop, but without the loop. Wrap the wire around 2-3 times. Cut the excess wire and tuck the ends in. Now you should have a one wire sticking out on the top. Insert one seed bead. Cut the wire down to about 1/4″ from the bead and create a simple wire loop. Seperate the wires to your desired size of leaf. You can straighten out any kinks on the wire with nylon covered pliers so you doesn’t mar the wire.

Add the beads: Start with bending back about 1″ of the end of a 3″ wire. Wrap the wire around one wire of the leaflet about 2-3 times. Add the red bead and close the wire on the same side wire.Wrap around about 2-3 times again. Repeat on the other wire. Experiment and place the beads anywhere you think looks good. Cut of excess wire and tuck the ends in.

Create hooks with the remaining wire. I used a wire-jig. If you don’t have a wire-jig, you can certainly use something cylinder (marker, pen, etc.)

Tip:

This make take a few attempts to make something without any marring on the wire. Practice makes perfect!